Short definition
The middle phase of tasting, after the initial attack and before the finish, where a wine's core character shows.
The mid-palate is where you discover what a wine is really about. After the initial hit of acidity or sweetness fades, the fruit, tannin, and texture reveal themselves. A "hollow" mid-palate — where flavor drops out before the finish — is a common flaw in cheaper wines. Top wines sustain intensity all the way through.